WASHINGTON: The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, is beginning a tour of Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, her office says – with no mention of a possible visit to Taiwan, BBC said.

There has been intense speculation that she may visit the self-ruled island, it said.

Taiwan is claimed by China – which has warned of “serious consequences” if she goes there, according to BBC.

No high-ranking US elected official has visited Taiwan in 25 years.

Pelosi, a California Democrat, tweeted that the six-person Congressional delegation tour would seek to “reaffirm America’s unshakeable commitment to our allies and friends in the region”.

Her office said the tour was to the “Indo-Pacific region” – “including” visits to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

The US has formal diplomatic ties with China, and not Taiwan, BBC has reported.

Pelosi has long been a vocal critic of the Chinese leadership, denouncing its human rights record. She has met pro-democracy dissidents and visited Tiananmen Square to commemorate victims of the 1989 massacre.

(Inputs from BBC)